Kate Moss' royal romance

Jan 14, 2010, 10:12 GMT

Kate Moss once dated an Italian prince.

The supermodel had a passionate affair with the heir to Italy's now abolished throne - Prince Emmanuele Filiberto Umberto Reza Maria Di Savoia - in 2002.

The royal - who lives in exile in Switzerland - was introduced to the supermodel by singer Marianne Faithful when they visited him in Corsica.

Prince Emmanuelle, 37, said: "We were together about eight months and she was a fascinating woman, not weird at all.

"She came on a yacht to my house in Corsica. She was meant to stay three days but stayed three weeks."

Emmanuele has fond memories of his time with 35-year-old Kate - who is currently dating The Kills rocker Jamie Hince and has a seven-year-old daughter Lila Grace from a previous relationship - and even penned a song to commemorate their affair.

He added: "I even wrote a song for her with Marianne called 'The Pleasure Song', about ways to love. Then our relationship ended because that's how things go, but I remember her as a very passionate lady. We were young, our roads drifted and we split up." The prince later went on to marry French actress Clotilde Courau, 40.

He also won the fifth series of 'Ballando con le Stelle' - the Italian version of 'Dancing With The Stars' - last year.

The Italian throne was abolished in 1946, although Prince Emmanuele retains the title of Prince of Venice and Piedmont.